Construction for sequential timer shaft



y 1962 L. A. WQOLLEY 3,033,054

CONSTRUCTION FOR SEQUENTIAL TIMER SHAFT Filed June 8, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet l 47 1/////// j 21:8:- i a n $41? FE 41 i & E 1 4 4a m -21 y 1962 A. WOOLLEY 3,033,054

CONSTRUCTION FOR SEQUENTIAL TIMER SHAFT Filed June 8, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 V/l/ll/ 9 6 39 s; 4 L35 g g rz W 4 a i 44 4: y 5 46 4 L 1 x 4 A I ,/490 1 6 kzf 1s v i Q3 27! m May 8, 1962 A. WOOLLEY 3,033,054

I CONSTRUCTION FOR SEQUENTIAL TIMER SHAFT Filed June 8, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 [H.VEUfUF Lee 4. h/aoli United States Patent Ofiice 3,0ss,es4 CGNSTRUCTION FUR SEQUENTIAL TIMER SHAFT Lee A. Woolley, Koiromo, Ind., assignor to Kingston Products Corporation, Kokomo, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed June 8, 1960, Ser. No. 34,779 12 Claims. (Cl. 74-504) This invention relates generally to sequential timers, and more specifically to an improved manual drive mechanism for the shaft thereof.

Although the principles of the present invention may be included in various devices, a particularly useful application is made in sequential timers of the type employed to operate and to regulate home laundry appliances. In particular, such timers employ a program cam or cam assembly which is rotated by a motor in one direction to close the proper combination of circuits at predetermined times, and to open the same. Such circuits control the washing, extracting, rinsing, drying, and the like of a washing machine. Frequently, the operator desires to alter the prescribed program, and therefore the timer typically includes a manual knob for advancing the main timing cam. Frequently the various switches operated by the main timing cam are of such a type that reverse rotation of the timing cam would damage them. Accordingly, it is known in the art to include means as a part of the timer to prevent inadvertent reverse rotation of the main timing cam.

Thus when the main timing cam is manually advanced in the proper direction, if this be done with the circuits energizable, the washing machine components are caused to pass quickly through their various cycles, there being a resulting banging and clanking of relays, solenoids, and the like in response to a rapid manual advancement of the main timing cam.

The present invention contemplates the utilization of structure which eliminates such actuation of various controls in response to manual advancement of the timer. To this end, a timer is so construe-ted in accordance with the principles of this invention that the knob, in combination with other claimed features, can be rigidly secured to the outer portion of a hollow sleeve for directly rota ting the sleeve, the sleeve having an abutment engageable with a pin carried by the shaft which drives the main timing cam, the abutment being engageable with the pin only when the sleeve is in an axially inner position. The invention preferably also includes a cam surface on the sleeve for effecting an axial shift of the sleeve in response to sleeve rotation.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved manual drive mechanism for a sequence timer.

Another object of the present invention isto provide a safety shaft construction, one characteristic of which is its simplicity, in that it employs a minimum number of component parts.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a manual drive mechanism for a sequence timer which mechanism is so constructed that rotation of the shaft by hand will effect a shutdown of the control system so that components thereof will not be energized in response to manual rotation of the shaft.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a manual drive mechanism for a sequence timer wherein the knob is restricted rotationally with respect to the timer shaft for any position of the knob.

Many other advantages, features and additional obje'cts of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the de- 3,633,054 Patented May 8, 1962 tailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which several structural embodiments incorporating the principles of the present invention are shown by way of illustrative example.

On the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary enlarged cross-sectional view of a sequential timer equipped with a manual drive mechanism provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary view, partly in section, taken along the line 11-11 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line III-HI in each of FIGURES l and 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional View of a sequen-tial timer equipped with a modified form of drive mechanism provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention; and

FIGURES 5 and 6 are fragmentary cross-sectional views illustrating further embodiments of drive mechanism provided in accordance with the principles of the present invention.

As shown on the drawings:

The principles of this invention are particularly useful when embodied in a sequential timer assembly such as illustrated fragmentarily in FIGURE 1, generally indicated by the numeral 14 The timer 10 includes a housing 11 having mounting bosses 12 secured by screws 13 to a structural member 14 of an appliance. The timer It further includes a timer shaft member 15 connected to a timing cam (not shown) in a manner that when the shaft 15 is manually rotated in one direction, the timing cam advances. The omitted details are known in the art, being shown, for example, in the US. patent to Constantine No. 2,703,347. The timer shaft 15 is sup ported for rotation about its axis by the housing 11 in an aperture 16. The shaft 15 has an annular groove 17 within which is received a wire member 18 supported by one of the bosses 12, the wire member 18 being held in position between a face 1.9 on the housing 11 and a locking plate 20 by such locking plate 20 which is received in grooves in the mounting bosses as shown. Thus the timer shaft member 15 is supported in a manner wherein it can rotate, but wherein it is axially fixed.

The manual drive mechanism of the instant invention includes the timer shaft 15, a tubular sleeve member 21 having an inner portion 21a and an outer portion 21b, and structural features and relationships presently to be described.

Tubular sleeve member 21 is directly supported by the shaft member 15, and receives the shaft member 15 therein. The tubular sleeve member 21 is axially slidable on the shaft member 15 as a unit for a limited axial dis tance. FIGURE 1 shows the sleeve member 21 in a first or inner position in which'an annular flange 22 engages a switch actuator 23 to hold a switch 24 in an open position. The switch 24 is a master switch so that when this switch is open, the timer does not supply a potential to any component controlled by it. The sleeve member 21 may be moved outwardly on the shaft to an outer or other position in which the switch 24 is closed. g I

To define the two sleeve member positions, detent means generally indicated at 25 are provided which act between the shaft member 15 and the sleeve member 7 21. In this embodiment, a detent spring 26'is carried by the sleeve member 21, and one end of the spring 26 extending through a slot in the sleeve member 21 for alternative engagement with either of two grooves 27, 28 in the shaft member 15. The spring 26 thus positively holds the sleeve member 21 in either of the inner or outer positions, and yields to permit the sleeve member 21 to be moved from one position to the other.

The outer portion of the sleeve member 21b is adapted as at 29 to have a knob 3t} rigidly secured thereto as by a set screw 31. It is apparent that a rotational force applied to the knob 30 will effect rotation of the outer portion 21b of the sleeve member 21. It is also apparent that reciprocation of the knob 30 will effect reciprocation of the entire sleeve member 21. Further, as is brought out more fully later herein, it is apparent that the outer portion 21b of the sleeve member 21 is ro tatable about the shaft axis for a limited angular distance with respect to the shaft member 15 when the sleeve member 21 is in one position, namely the inner position as drawn.

The inner portion 21a of the sleeve member 21 is corotatable with the shaft member 15. To this end, ear means 32 on the shaft member 15 extend radially therefrom and are received in slots 33 in the inner sleeve member portion 2.1a, thereby effecting corotation. The slots 33 are elongated so that the connection formed by the ears 32 and the slots 33 is a connection between the inner portion 21a of the sleeve member 21 and the shaft 15 which is an axially sliding connection.

Referring now to FIGURE 2, it will be seen that the inner portion of the sleeve member 21a has at its outer end a neck portion 34 of reduced diameter which defines a circumferential channel, and a shoulder portion 35 of intermediate diameter which has shoulders directed in both axial directions. The outer portion 21b of the sleeve member has at its inner end an internal shoulder 36 with abutment surfaces directed in both axial directions, and which is defined by an internal generally annular channel 37. The channel 34 receives the shoulder 36 while the channel 37 receives the shoulder 35. To permit assembly and disassembly, the shoulder 36 is cut away as best seen in FIGURE 3 to permit sliding reception of the shoulder 35. Thus the inner portion 21a and the outer portion 21b of the sleeve member 21 are interlocked axially in a manner that permits relative rotation therebetween.

Referring again to FIGURE 1, and as also seen in FIGURE 2, a pin or rigid pin means 38 is carried by the shaft member 15, and in this embodiment projects radially from both sides thereof. The outer portion 21b of the sleeve member 21 is provided with a radially directed opening 39 which receives the pin 38, the pin 38 being engageable with the edges which define the opening 39. It will be noted that the opening 39 is elongated in an axial direction to permit reciprocation of the sleeve member 21. It will also be noted that the opening 39 is elongated in an arcuate manner about the axis of the sleeve member 15, such elongation being only in that portion of the opening 39 as receives the pin 38 when the sleeve member 21 is in the inner or first position shown. This elongation about the axis permits rotation of the outer portion 21b with respect to the shaft member 15 for a limited angular distance. One end of the elongation about the axis defines an abutment 40 which is corotata'ble with the outer portion 21b and hence also corotatable with the knob 30. It is thus apparent that the abutment 40 is engageable with the pin only when the sleeve member is in the first or inner position. Roration of the knob 30 in a clockwise direction as viewed from above causes the shaft member 15 to rotate in one direction for advancement of the timing cam when the switch 24 is in the open position. As mentioned above, if the knob 30 were rotated in the opposite direction, conventional means, not shown but forming a conventional part of the timer Ill, precludes reverse rotation of the shaft 15.

As best seen in FIGURE 1, it will be noted that the opening 39 is also elongated from the abutment 40 to the more remote end of the axial elongation 41 to define an axially directed cam surface 42 which in this embodi merit terminates at the abutment 40. The cam surface 42 is engageable by the pin 38 in response to rotation of the outer portion 21b of the sleeve member 21 when the sleeve member is in its outer position, for camming the sleeve from one to another of the positions, namely from the outer to the inner position in response to rotation of the knob in a clockwise direction as viewed from above.

Thus if an attempt is made to advance the position of the timing cam when the master switch 24 is closed, the force applied to so turn the timing cam shaft 15 first effects an axial shift of the sleeve member 21 to open the switch 24 before the pin 38 engages the abutment 40 in a manner which permits actual rotation of the timing cam.

Preferably, the instant embodiment also includes index means, here illustrated as a dial plate 43 which is disposed concentrically with the sleeve member 21. The dial plate 43 is provided with support means which render the dial plate corotatable with the shaft member 15 and reciprocable with the sleeve member 21. To thls end, in this embodiment, such support means includes the hub portion 44 secured by a set screw 45 to the inner portion 21a of the sleeve member 21.

It will be noted that the shaft member 15 projects from the frame of the appliance through a decorative panel 46 so that the dial plate 43 is disposed on the outside of the machine. To provide further reference means, and to preclude manual grasping of the dial plate and hence use of it as a knob, a transparent cover 47 may be employed as shown.

Even though there is an angular lost motion connection between the knob 30 and the shaft 15, the dial plate 43 will always accurately represent the relative position of the timing cam shaft member 15. It is also apparent that when the timer is running, since the pin 38 engag s the point 41 within the opening 39, the knob 30 may be pushed by the operator at any time to shut down the machine without rotation of the knob 30. It is particularly important that a structure has been provided wherein the foregoing results can be obtained and wherein at the same time angular restraint will be provided to knob rotation for either axial knob position.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, there is shown a modified form of the instant invention. Components or parts thereof which are identical to FIGURE 1 have been identified by the same reference numerals. In this embodiment, the timer 10 has been provided with a slightly simpler form of timer shaft 43 and a modified form of sleeve member 49. The shaft member 48 is supported in an identical manner and is identically restrained against axial movement, as already described. Further, the sleeve member 49 similarly includes inner and outer portions 4%, 49b supported by the shaft member 49 and axially slidable thereon as a unit for a limited extent governed by the detent means 25. Similarly the outer portion 49b of the sleeve member 49 supports the knob 39. The outer portion 49b of the sleeve member 49 is provided with an aperture 39 which receives the pin 38 and cooperates therewith in a manner already described. Thereby the outer portion 49b is rotatable about the shaft member axis for a limited angular distance with respect to the shaft member 48 when in the inner position.

However, in this embodiment, different means are employed by which the inner portion 49a of the sleeve 49 is rendered corotatable with the shaft member 48. A shoulder 50, corresponding to the shoulder 35, at the outer end of the inner portion of the sleeve member 49 is received within a channel 51 corresponding to the channel 3,7. The shoulder 50 and the channel 51 are rather elongated in an axial direction, and the shoulder 50 is provided with a pair of axially extending slots 52, the sides of which are engageable with thepin 38, and which register with the abutment in the aperture or opening 39. Thus the means carried by the shaft 48 which efiect corotation between the inner portion 49a of the sleeve and the shaft 48 comprises a part of the pin 38. Thus, as in the first-described embodiment, the inner portion 49a of the sleeve member 49 is corotatable with the shaft 48, has an axially slidable connection with the shaft 48, and

is axially interlocked with the outer portion 49b of the sleeve member 49. In this embodiment, it will be noted that only the inner portion 49a is in direct contact with the shaft member '48.

The operation and the results obtained thereby are the same as those described above for the embodiment of FIGURE 1.

Referring now to FIGURE 5, there is disclosed a further embodiment where identical numerals have again been applied to parts or components thereof which are identical to those previously discussed. In this embodiment, a tubular sleeve member 53 is again directly supported by and receives the shaft member 48, and is axially slidable thereon as a unit for a limited axial distance between an inner illustrated position and an outer position. In this embodiment the outer portion 53b again supports the knob 30 to be directly rotated, the entire sleeve member being reciprocable in response to pulling and pushing on the knob 30. The outer portion 53b of the sleeve member 53 is again provided with an aperture 39 of the configuration previously described and through which a pin 54 carried by the shaft 48 and radially projecting therefrom extends. Thus the abutment in the aperture 39 is corotatable with the outer portion 53b of the sleeve member 53 and is engageable with the pin 54 only when the sleeve member 53 is in the inner position. In this embodiment, the inner and outer portions 53a, 53]) comprise a unitary member. Also, the shaft pin 54 is extended radially of the shaft 48 to provide support for a hub 55 carried by a dial plate 56 or index means. Thus support means are provided for the dial plate 56 which are corotatable with the shaft member 48, the hub 55 receiving a portion of the pin 54. It is to be noted that the pin 54 is the sole means by which the dial plate 56 may be manually rotated. Since the dial plate 56 is corotatable with the pin 54, it is apparent that an extended end 57 of the pin 54 may of itself comprise index means which cooperates with other markings on the panel d6 or cover 47. This embodiment is particularly advantageous because of its simplicity, and like the previously described embodiments, the knob 30 is never free to rotate without restriction in either of the positions of the sleeve member 53.

Referring now to FIGURE 6, there is illustrated a still further type of manual drive mechanism for the sequence timer 10. For convenience, the knob 39 has been omitted from the drawing.

The timer includes a shaft member 58 which is both axially fixed and supported for rotation about its axis by means previously described. The drive mechanism, in addition to the shaft 58, includes a tubular sleeve member 59 adapted at its outer end 60 to have a knob rigidly secured thereto in a manner shown in the other embodiments. The tubular sleeve member 59 is directly supported by and receives the shaft member 58 and is axially slidable thereon as a unit for a limited axial distance between a first or inner position, which again is illustrated, and an outer position where the switch 24, shown in FIGURE 1, would be in an open position. These axially spaced positions of the sleeve member 5a are defined by detent means acting between the shaft and sleeve member, which detent means are generally indicated by the numeral 61. The shaft member 58 is provided with two axially spaced dimples 62 which register with an opening 63 in the sleeve member 59 which receives a ball 64 biased by a clip type of spring 65. Again, rotation of the knob in a clockwise direction as viewed from above will effect joint sleeve and shaft rotation in that one direction, and reciprocation of the knob will effect reciprocation of the entire sleeve member 59 as a unit. The sleeve member 5% is rotatable about the shaft 59 in either direction when in one position, namely the outer position.

The shaft member 58 is provided with the pin 38 which extends radially therefrom, and when the sleeve member 59 is in the inner position, the pin 33 is engageable with an abutment 66 which is corotatable with the outer portion of the sleeve member 59. The abutment 66 is engageable with the pin 38 only when the sleeve member 59 is in one of its axial positions, and registration angularly between the pin 38 and the abutment 66 is indicated for the other of the positions when the ball 64 seats in the outer of the dimples 62.

The engagement between the pin 38 and the abutment 66 efiects rotation of the shaft member 58 for only one direction of knob rotation. If the knob and sleeve member 59 are in the inner position as shown, and if they be rotated, as viewed from above, in a counterclockwise direction, the shaft member 38 will engage an axially directed cam surface 67 which, in this embodiment, also terminates at the abutment 66. The cam surface 67 is engageable by the pin 38 in response to rotation of the outer portion of the sleeve member 59 for camming the sleeve from one to another of its axial positions, namely from the inner to the outer of said positions.

Although various minor modifications might be suggested by those versed in the art, it should be understood that I wish to embody within the scope of the patent warranted hereon all such embodiments as reasonably and properly come within the scope of my contribution to the art.

I claim as my invention:

1. A manual drive mechanism for a sequence timer comprising in combination: an axially fixed timer shaft member adapted to be supported for rotation about its axis; a tubular sleeve member directly supported by and receiving said shaft member, said sleeve member being axially slidable on said shaft member for a limited axial distance be tween two positions, and adapted to open a switch in a first of said positions and to close said switch in the other of said positions; detent means carried by one of said members and acting on the other of said members to positively hold said sleeve member in either of said positions; at least the outer portion of said sleeve member being rotatable about said axis for at least a limited angular distance with respect to said shaft member when in one of said positions; said outer portion of said sleeve member being adapted to have a knob rigidly secured thereto for positively directly rotating at least said outer portion and for reciprocating said sleeve member; a pin carried by said shaft member and extending radially therefrom; said sleeve member having an abutment co-rotatable with said outer portion of said sleeve member and engageable with said pin only when said sleeve member is in said first position, for rotating said shaft member in one direction; and said sleeve member having an axially directed cam surface terminating at said abutment, which cam surface is engageable with said pin in response to rotation of the outer portion of said sleeve member for camming said sleeve member axially from one to another of said positions.

2. A manual drive mechanism for a sequence timer comprising in combination: an axially fixed timer shaft member adapted to be supported for rotation about its axis; a tubular sleeve member directly supported by and receiving said shaft member, said sleeve member being axially slidable on said shaft member for a limited axial distance between two positions, and adapted to open a switch in a first of said positions and to close said switch in the other of said positions; detent means carried by one of said members and acting on the other of said members to positively hold said sleeve member in either of said positions; at least the outer pontion of said sleeve member being rotatable about said axis for at least a limited angular distance with respect to said shaft memher when in one of said positions; said outer portion of said sleeve member being adapted to have a knob rigidly secured thereto for positively directly rotating at least said outer portion and for reciprocating said sleeve member; a pin carried by said shaft member and extending aceaoee radially therefrom; said sleeve member having an abutment corotatable with said outer portion of said sleeve member and engageable with said pin only when said sleeve member is in said first position, for rotating said shaft member in one direction.

3. A manual drive mechanism for a sequence timer comprising in combination: an axially fixed timer shaft member adapted to be supported for rotation about its axis; a tubular sleeve member directly supported by and receiving said shaft member, said sleeve member being axially slidable on said shaft member for a limited axial distance between two positions, and adapted to open a switch in a first of said positions and to close said switch in the other of said positions; detent means carried by one of said members and acting on the other of said members to positively hold said sleeve member in either of said positions; at least the outer portion of said sleeve member being rotatable about said axis for at least a limited angular distance with respect to said shaft member when in one of said positions; said outer portion of said sleeve 1..

member being adapted to have a knob rigidly secured thereto for positively directly rotating at least said outer pontion and for reciprocating said sleeve member; a pin carried by said shaft member and extending radially therefrom; said sleeve member having an abutment corotatable with said outer portion of said sleeve member and engageable with said pin only when said sleeve member is in said first position, for rotating said shaft member in one direction; and said sleeve member having an axially directed cam surface terminating at said abutment, which cam surface is engageable with said pin in response to rotation of the outer portion of said sleeve member in said one direction, for camming said sleeve member axially from said other position to said first position.

4. A manual drive mechanism for a sequence timer comprising in combination: an axially fixed timer shaft member adapted to be supported for rotation about its axis; a tubular sleeve member directly supported by and receiving said shaft member, said sleeve member being axially slidable on said shaft member for a limited axial distance between two positions, and adapted to open a switch in a first of said positions and to close said switch in the other of said positions; detent means carried by one of said members and acting on the other of said members to positively hold said sleeve member in either of said positions; at least the outer portion of said sleeve member being rotatable about said axis for at least a limited angular distance with respect to said shaft member when in one of said positions; said outer portion of said sleeve member being adapted to have a knob rigidly secured thereto for positively directly rotating at least said outer portion and for reciprocating said sleeve member; rigid pin means canried by said shaft member and extending radially therefrom; said sleeve member having an abutment corotatable with said outer portion of said sleeve member and engageable with said pin means only when said sleeve member is in said first position, for rotating said shaft member in one direction; and said sleeve member having an axially directed cam surface engageable with said pin means in response to rotation of the outer portion of said sleeve member for camming said sleeve member axially from one to another of said positions.

5. A manual drive mechanism for a sequence timer comprising in combination: an axially fixed timer shaft member adapted to be supported for rotation about its axis; a tubular sleeve member directly supported by and receiving said shaft member, said sleeve member being axially slidable on said shaft member for a limited axial distance between two positions, and adapted to open a switch in the inner of said positions and to close said switch in the outer of said positions; detent means carried by one of said members and acting on the other of said members to positively hold said sleeve member in either of said positions; at least the outer portion of said sleeve member being rotatable about said axis for a limited angular distance with respect to said shaft mem-. ber only when said sleeve member is in said inner of said positions; said outer portion of said sleeve member being adapted to have a knob rigidly secured thereto for positively directly rotating at least said outer portion and for reciprocating said sleeve member; a pin carried by said shaft member and extending radially therefrom; said sleeve member having an abutment corotatable with said outer portion of said sleeve member and engageable with said pin only when said sleeve member is in said inner position, for rotating said shaft member in one direction; and said sleeve member having an axially directed cam surface terminating at said abutment, which cam surface is engageable with said pin in response to rotation of the outer portion of said sleeve member in said one direction, for camming said sleeve member axially from said outer position to said inner position.

6. A manual drive mechanism for a sequence timer comprising in combination: an axially fixed timer shaft member adapted to be supported for rotation about its axis; a tubular sleeve member directly supported by and receiving said shaft member, said sleeve member being axially slidable on said shaft member for a limited axial distance between two positions, and adapted to open a switch in a first of said positions and to close said switch in the other of said positions; detent means carried by one of said members and acting on the other of said members to positively hold said sleeve member in either of said positions; at least the outer portion of said sleeve member being rotatable about said axis for at least a limited angular distance with respect to said shaft member when in one of said positions; said outer portion of said sleeve member being adapted to have a knob rigidly secured thereto for positively directly rotating at least said outer portion and for reciprocating said sleeve member; a pin carried by said shaft member and extending radially therefrom; said sleeve member having an abutment corotatable with said outer portion of said sleeve member and engageable with said pin only when said sleeve member is in said first position, for rotating said shaft member in one direction; an annular dial plate disposed concentrically with said sleeve member; and means supporting said dial plate so that it is both axially reciprocable with said sleeve member and corotatable with said shaft member.

7. A manual drive'mechanism for a sequence timer comprising in combination: an axially fixed timer shaft member adapted to be supported for rotation about its axis; a tubular sleeve member directly supported by and receiving said shaft member, said sleeve member being axially slidable on said shaft member for a limited axial distance between two positions, and adapted to open a switch in a first of said positions and to close said switch in the other of said positions; detent means carried by one of said members and acting on the other of said members to positively hold said sleeve member in either of said positions; at least the outer portion of said sleeve member being rotatable about said axis for at least a limited angular distance with respect to said shaft member when in one of said positions; said outer portion of said sleeve member being adapted to have a knob rigidly secured thereto for positively directly rotating at least said outer portion and for reciprocating said sleeve member; a pin carried by said shaft member and extending radially therefrom; said sleeve member having an abutment corotatable with said outer portion of said sleeve member and engageable with said pin only when said sleeve member is in said first position, for rotating said shaft member in one direction; said pin having a portion extending radially through and beyond said sleeve member; and an annular dial plate disposed concentrically with said sleeve member, said plate having a hub receiving said portion of said pin, said pin portion comprising the sole means by which said dial plate may be manually rotated.

8. A manual drive mechanism for a sequence timer comprising in combination: an axially fixed timer shaft member adapted to be supported for rotation about its axis; a tubular sleeve member directly supported by and receiving said shaft member, said sleeve member being axially slidable on said shaft member for a limited axial distance between two positions, and adapted to open a switch in a first of said positions and to close said switch in the other of said positions; detent means carried by one of said members and acting on the other of said members to positively hold said sleeve member in either of said positions; at least the outer portion of said sleeve member being rotatable about said axis for at least a limited angular distance with respect to said shaft member when in one of said positions; said outer portion of said sleeve member being adapted to have a knob rigidly secured thereto for positively directly rotating at least said outer portion and for reciprocating said sleeve member; a pin carried by said shaft member and extending radially therefrom; said sleeve member having an abutment corotatable with said outer portion of said sleeve member and engageable with said pin only when said sleeve member is in said first position, for rotating said shaft member in one direction; said sleeve member having an inner portion which is corotatable with said shaft member; and index means secured to said inner portion of said sleeve member for both reciprocation and corotation therewith.

9. A manual drive mechanism for a sequence timer comprising in combination: an axially fixed timer shaft member adapted to be supported for rotation about its axis; a tubular sleeve member directly supported by and receiving said shaft member, said sleeve member being axially slidable on said shaft member for a limited axial distance between two positions, and adapted to open a switch in a first of said positions and to close said switch in the other of said positions; detent means carried by one of said members and acting on the other of said members to positively hold said sleeve member in either of said positions; at least the outer portion of said sleeve member being rotatable about said axis for at least a limited angular distance with respect to said shaft member when in one of said positions; said outer portion of said sleeve member being adapted to have a knob rigidly secured thereto for positively directly rotating at least said outer portion and for reciprocating said sleeve member; a pin carried by said shaft member and extending radially therefrom; said sleeve member having an abutment corotatable with said outer portion of said sleeve member and engageable with said pin only when said sleeve member is in said first position, for rotating said shaft member in one direction; said sleeve member having an inner portion; means carried by one of said members drivably engaging the other of said members for effecting an axially slidable rotational drive connection between said inner portion of said sleeve member and said shaft member; and index means secured to said inner portion of said sleeve member for both reciprocation and corotation therewith.

10. A manual drive mechanism for a sequence timer comprising in combination: an axially fixed timer shaft member adapted to be supported for rotation about its axis; a tubular sleeve member directly supported by and receiving said shaft member, said sleeve member being axially slidable on said shaft member for a limited axial distance between two positions, and adapted to open a switch in a first of said positions and to close said switch in the other of said positions; detent means carried by one of said members and acting on the other of said members to positively hold said sleeve member in either of said positions; at least the outer portion of said sleeve member being rotatable about said axis for at least a limited angular distance with respect to said shaft member when in one of said positions; said outer portion of said sleeve member being adapted to have a knob rigidly secured thereto for positively directly rotating at least said outer portion and for reciprocating said sleeve member; a pin carried by said shaft member and extending radially therefrom; said sleeve member having an abutment corotatable with said outer portion of said sleeve member and engageable with said pin only when said sleeve member is in said first position, for rotating said shaft member in one direction; said sleeve member having an inner portion interlocked axially with said outer portion thereof, and provided with an axially extending slot adjacent to said shaft member; and means carried by said shaft member receivable in said slot for permitting said inner portion to move axially with respect to said shaft member, and for effecting corotation therewith; and index means secured to said inner portion of said sleeve member for both me ciprocation and corotation therewith.

11. A manual drive mechanism for a sequence timer comprising in combination: an axially fixed timer shaft member adapted to be supported for rotation about its axis; a tubular sleeve member directly supported by and receiving said shaft member, said sleeve member being axially slidable on said shaft member for a limited axial distance between two positions, and adapted to open a switch in a first of said positions and to close said switch in the other of said positions; detent means carried by one of said members and acting on the other of said members to positively hold said sleeve member in either of said positions; at least the outer portion of said sleeve member being rotatable about said axis for at least a limited angular distance with respect to said shaft member when in one of said positions; said outer portion of said sleeve member being adapted to have a knob rigidly secured thereto for positively directly rotating at least said outer portion and for reciprocating said sleeve member; a pin carried by said shaft member and extending radially therefrom; said sleeve member having an abutment corotatable with said outer portion of said sleeve member and engageable with said pin only when said sleeve member is in said first position, for rotating said shaft member in one direction; said sleeve member having an inner portion interlocked axially with said outer portion thereof, and provided with an axially extending slot adjacent to said abutment, and disposed adjacent to said shaft member; and means comprising part of said pin carried by said shaft member receivable in said slot for permitting said inner portion to move axially with respect to said shaft member, and for eifecting corotation therewith; and index means secured to said inner portion of said sleeve member for both reciprocation and corotation therewith.

12. A manual drive mechanism for a sequence timer comprising in combination: an axially fixed timer shaft member adapted to be supported for rotation about its axis; a tubular sleeve member directly supported by and receiving said shaft member, said sleeve member being axially slidable on said shaft member for a limited axial distance between two positions, and adapted to open a switch in a first of said positions and to close said switch in the other of said positions; detent means carried by one of said members and acting on the other of said members to positively hold said sleeve member in either of said positions; at least the outer portion of said sleeve member being rotatable about said axis for at least a limited angular distance with respect to said shaft member when in one of said positions; said outer portion of said sleeve member being adapted to have a knob rigidly secured thereto for positively directly rotating at least said outer portion and for reciprocating said sleeve member; said outer portion of said sleeve member having a radially directed opening; and a pin carried by said shaft member and extending radially therefrom into said opening for engagement with the edges thereof; said opening being elongated axially of said sleeve member, to permit reciprocation of said sleeve member between said posir. i 2 tions, being elongated about the axis of the sleeve member tation of said outer portion of said sleeve member in said for only said first sleeve position, to permit rotation of said one direction. outer portion of said sleeve member for said limited angular distance, thereby defining an abutment engageable by References Cited-in the file of this patent said pin for rotating said shaft member in one direction,

and being elongated from said abutment to the more re- UNITED STATES PATENTS mote end of the axial elongation to define a cam surface 2,498,651 C Om Feb. 28, 1950 for shifting said sleeve member from said other of said 2,665,904 Lehmann J an. 12, 1954 positions to said first of said positions in response to ro- 2,810,435 Demi et a1 Oct. 22, 1957 

